The Vatican

Sunday morning I was up bright and early (even earlier, because Europe went to daylight savings time Sunday) to see the Vatican Museum.  I inadvertently visited Rome on the last Sunday of the month, which is free day at the museum.  The line up at the entrance to the museum was crazy!  I arrived at 8:00am, and had to wait for 2 hours just to get in the museum.  Once inside, it was so packed, that you had no choice but to shuffle along slowly with the crowd from room to room.

Inside the Vatican museum.

The paintings all over the walls and ceiling were incredibly beautiful,but after a while they became a bit overwhelming.  There was a modern art section, which was a nice break from the rest.  I found it very strange in the Sistine Chapel to have the guard announcing over loud speakers every couple minutes for everyone to be quiet.  I think it kind of defeated the whole purpose of the silence.

Everyone waiting for the pope.

Walking back from the Vatican museum, I walked through St Peter's square while the crowds were waiting for the pope to do his Sunday morning address. People looked like they had been camped out there for quite a while.  I didn't stay to see the pope, I needed to get away from crowds for a bit.

View of the city from above.

I went out for lunch at a nice little Trattoria.  I think eating out is my least favourite part of traveling alone, it is always so awkward.  I really wish I had brought some reading material or the newspaper or something.  I also have no idea how to pronounce anything in Italian!

My favourite fountain.

I think my favourite part of the day may have been wandering around one of the big city parks.  I don't think there's much money to maintain the parks, as the city isn't in great financial shape, but that made the park even more charming.  I really loved this one overgrown fountain.  I broke my sunglasses a couple weeks ago, so I bought some new ones from a guy in the park.  I was proud the negotiation skills I learned in Cambodia and Vietnam, I was able to get him down from 15 to 4 Euros.  The glasses probably don't have any UV protection and will break soon, but they did the trick for the day.

Hanging out in the park with my 4 € shades.

In the evening, I went out for pizza with some Central American girls from my hostel.  They were really friendly, and good to hang out with for a meal.  One was is from Honduras and is studying in Germany, and the other is from Panama and is working in the UK.  They decided to meet up for the weekend in Rome to celebrate both their birthdays.

Pizza and Peroni